Love Pays the Rent

Despite the Sonny and Cher 60’s song… 

Love does pay the rent!



When we put our total trust in God to provide for our basic needs we are expecting His love to pay our rent. 


Children don’t worry about the rent. In fact, rent isn’t on their radar. They have blind faith that their needs will be taken care of, because they trust their parent’s love for them.

As adults it’s difficult for us to put ourselves back in that innocent trusting mindset because we have been hurt so much by life experiences.

If we can listen to Jesus’ teaching and become as a little child life can be so much better.  

It’s not easy but it is possible. We must remember, God never asks us to do something He hasn’t already equipped us to do.

This is the truth: unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. In that kingdom, the most humble who are most like this child are the greatest.  ~ Matthew 18:3-4 (Voice)

How can I be more childlike?

  • Be more play-full and wonder-full.
  • Sit in the grass and look at the flowers.
  • Discover something new today.

Be alive, awake, aware, in awe of God’s creations around you!


Living Life Lessons :: LOVE YOURSELF!

Some people think it’s wrong to love yourself. Aren’t we supposed to put others first? Are we being selfish when we love ourselves? Let’s talk about true love.

In the Living Life Lessons column, I’m sharing various lessons God has taught me.

 
A couple of years ago I was introduced to a little book that has changed my life and continues to change the lives of those in my circle of influence. 
 
This wonderfully powerful book is Loving Yourself for God’s Sake by Adolfo Quezada
 
Don’t let its size (only 83 pages) or its simple message fool you; it is chocked full of nugget after nugget of wisdom. Reading it now for the third time, I can barely get through a paragraph before I must stop and meditate on another healing truth.
 
When under the influence of my addiction, I spent many years hurting myself and others around me, especially those I was supposed to love the most! I’m ashamed to think about the horrible things I did to my family and friends. But does that mean I didn’t really love them?

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and whatever other commandment—all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself. ~ Romans 13:8-10

When we look at the scripture above, we often focus on the commandments or the laws of God, seeing them as hard and fast rules that mustn’t be broken, possibly difficult habits to break. 
 
Perhaps if we will change our perspective and put our focus on the results rather than the rules it will be easier to swallow.
 
The summary statement at the end: Love your neighbor as yourself sounds like it’s just telling us only to love someone else. We are supposed to love our neighbor but that’s only one part. The critical, and often overlooked piece, is the very end: as yourself. 
 
God knows that we will love others AS we love ourselves–whether we do it right or wrong-that’s how love works. But before we can love ourselves, we must first love God.

HOW we love God = How we love ourselves = HOW we love others!

Does your life reflect your love of God or the lack thereof?

How are your treating yourself? What about those you love?

“Pray that God will fire your soul with a love so real and encompassing that your life becomes a bright and steady reflection of God’s unconditional love for you.” ~ Adolfo Quezada

Click here for an awesome song by Israel Houghton. Turn up your speakers!!

 

RESOURCES:

Loving Yourself for God’s Sake by Adolfo Quezada
Life Recovery Devotional

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